Taking his cues from his co-captain James Fisher Harris, One New Zealand Warriors teen sensation Leka Halasima might not say too much but has been making a statement with his on-field performances.
While he made his debut in round 18 last season, the Ōtāhuhu Leopards junior announced his arrival with a stunning length of the field try against Wests Tigers in a Campbelltown cliffhanger in round four this year.
With a little over 10 minutes to play and his team down by six, Halasima latched onto a Taine Tuaupiki pass and stormed down the sideline before stepping his way through defenders to score his first career try.
Luke Metcalf added the extras and a penalty goal shortly after as the Warriors went on to win 26-24 to make it three victories on the trot.
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On replay #4: What the Halasima? Leka with a stunner
Part of the rising crop of youngsters who have helped lift the Warriors to third on the ladder, the 19-year-old credits coach Andrew Webster with giving himself and fellow rookies like Demitric Vaimauga, Ali Leiataua and Jacob Laban the belief to step up.
“He is backing us. Heaps of young boys coming up, especially good having Webby having our trust and us backing up the older boys that are injured," said Halasima.
"We have just got to earn the trust and go after them.
Match: Dragons v Warriors
Round 10 -
home Team
Dragons
14th Position
away Team
Warriors
2nd Position
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
“How I feel about my footy at the moment? I feel like I'm on the right track but I have got things to develop and practice and hopefully I nail that soon.
“I am enjoying it, 100 per cent. Enjoying starting as well.”
Making the Warriors' recent run of wins even more impressive is the fact they have done it without Fisher-Harris, who has been sidelined since round six with a pectoral injury.
Whether it's on the park or the training track or in his powerful leadership, Fisher-Harris' influence has been immense.
“He's brought a lot,” said Halasima. “Everyone knows he's a quiet guy, but he leads with his actions. We just try to match his energy.
“He doesn't talk or anything he just leads with his action, so we try to match his effort.”
Now 12 games into his NRL career, Halasima has savoured victory in seven of those, including the Magic Round win over the Cowboys where he faced off against one of his role models in Jason Taumalolo.
“I saw him in front of me and I was a bit panicky,” said Halasima, who was born in Tonga and has dreamt of one day playing alongside Taumalolo.
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On replay #1: Holy Leka, Halasima does it again
“I actually looked up to that guy growing up. When I was younger, I looked up to him – so playing against him, that was good as.
“The goal is there to play for Tonga, but right now, I am just focused on my job and what I need to do for the team as well.
“That's a goal. Get a premiership for the Warriors as well, first time, and see what happens after that, get picked or not, but still I'm growing."
This week, the Warriors will be aiming to make it four wins in a row when they travel to Wollongong to take on the Dragons.
The squad has been boosted by the inclusion on the wing for the first time this year of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak who returns from a broken wrist, while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been named in the reserves as he comes back from a hamstring complaint.
For Halasima, it's another step along the journey to carving out an NRL career he hopes might one day see him emulating the deeds of men like Fisher-Harris and Taumalolo.
